ARCHIVE
January 2007
 

JUNE 2007

 

Hello to all our readers,

Welcome to the latest edition of the EML newsletter which we hope you'll find useful and interesting. We've included details on a number of interesting situations vacant (in destinations from Bolivia to Greenland), details of all our forthcoming courses, competitions and much more!

This year started with great momentum, and we have already run a successful Polar Medicine course and EML UK course. The rest of the year sees yet more opportunities to expand your horizons and experience, with a Jungle Medicine in Borneo, Desert Medcine in Namibia and another UK-based course on the horizon.

Happy reading.

Whats inside

Course news -what’s going on and where

Jungle & Tropical Expedition Medicine Course set in Borneo

17th – 23rd June 2007 – HURRY LAST FEW PLACES STILL AVAILABLE

The expedition leader for this course will be Dr Mark Read, who is Queensland’s leading crocodile biologist. Dr Read works for the Queensland Park & Wildlife Service on crocodile research and management. He manages a team of wildlife specialists for the conservation of wildlife in national parks and happily refers to himself as a ‘wildlife trouble-shooter’.
Expedition Medicine's Jungle Medical Skills course is set in Borneo. Sabah is part of the island of

Borneo known as "the land below the wind" because geographically it is situated below the typhoon and monsoon belt. Borneo has a unique diverse population comprising 32 ethnic communities, and boasts some of the world's greatest wildlife treasures.

The course is for medical professionals who are responsible for clients in a tropical or jungle environment. You’ll cover topics like treating snake, scorpion and spider bites, wound management, avoiding diseases, field diagnosis of tropical diseases - as well as trekking in the jungle, rafting, creating a shelter and navigating.

Download an application form here or contact us for further details here

EML UK COURSE

10th – 13th September 2007 - BOOKINGS NOW BEING TAKEN

17th - 20th March 2008 - BOOKINGS NOW BEING TAKEN

The aim of the Expedition Medicine course is to provide doctors, nurses, paramedics and advanced medics with the skills and practical knowledge to become valuable members of an expedition team. The EML course will be intensive and thorough, drawing on the extensive skills base within the faculty. No previous outdoors experience is required.

Download an application form here or contact us for further details here

Polar Medicine Course

17th – 23rd February 2008 - BOOKINGS NOW BEING TAKEN

The polar course has been developed for medical professionals or advanced medics working in cold environments, and at altitude. The course aims to use the winter mornings and evenings, and covers the essential expedition medical skills required to care for and treat injuries and illnesses likely to occur in this harsh environment. BOOK NOW AS LIMITED PLACES.

Download an application form here or contact us for further details here

DATES NOW SET FOR Desert Medicine course - Namibia

15th – 21st August 2008 - BOOKINGS NOW BEING TAKEN

Developed for medical professionals or advanced medics working in hot or arid climates. Namibia is one of the few places on earth where the natural environment rules supreme. It is a country where one is able to experience the sense of primeval freedom that is impossible elsewhere

Contact us for further details here

ID parade & caption competition

Nobody correctly identified the ID parade photos – here are the answers are - just in case you were still pondering.

Arsenicosis Arsenicosis

Leishmaniasis

Caption competition

What on earth has this chap been up too? Does he need a medic? Send your captions to Julie

SITUATION VACANT

Scientific Exploration Society seeks doctor and nurse. The 20-strong Kota Mama VI expedition, organised by SES, is investigating a five–mile-diameter crater in the jungle/swamps in NE Bolivia. The expedition leaves on the 21st June and returns on the 6th August. Being a charity they request that members of the team fund themselves. For further information email jbs@ses-explore.org

Borders Exploration Group seek doctor. Borders Expedition Group is seeking a doctor for its expedition to Zambia this summer. Dates are 4th July to 10th Aug. If you would like to know more contact Jim McPherson- jimcpherson@beeb.net

CHIRAG Himalayan Hospital seeks two doctors. Two doctors (preferably GPs) are required, preferably with an interest in women and children’s health, for a small rural hospital in the Himalayas. Contact either Dr Satyendra Singh Ph. UK 00 44 (0)7804357297 or Mr V K Madhavan Executive Director CHIRAG, www.chirag.org. For further information click here

Everest Marathon 2007. A doctor is required for the Everest Marathon. Your job will be to look after the runners, and you will be responsible for about 12 runners each. You will travel with them and see and do everything they do, except the race. For further details on the marathon click here. If you are interested in applying please email your CV to Dave Buckler.

Greenland mountain leader required. British Schools Exploring Society is looking for a mountain leader for an expedition to Disko Island off the west coast of Greenland, from 12th July – 16th August 2007. This is an exciting opportunity to get involved in an expedition to a remote and challenging environment. Email sarah@thepolarpeople.co.uk for more details.

Raleigh International runs expeditions throughout the year and is currently looking for expedition medics (doctors, nurses and paramedics) for expeditions to Costa Rica & Nicaragua, Namibia and Malaysia for summer and autumn expeditions for 2007. Email Nicky Burwood for further details.

For more details on these and other situations vacant click here

Dr Amy Hughes – Amazing Namibia

Spitzkopje, Namibia

Chaffing in the Namibian desert

Having heard how beautiful Namibia is and the popularity of trips out to the west coast of southern Africa, I was delighted to find myself designated as medic for the multi-activity desert challenge with the Prince’s Trust charity earlier this year. Determined to get fit for the challenge, I dislodged my childhood bike from the rafters of the shed along with a considerable amount of rust and, following a few minor alterations, set about cycling to work each day in preparation for what no doubt was to be a fairly arduous desert ride. Six weeks later and a cumulative cycling total of about 20 miles on Cambridgeshire canal tow-paths, I probably hadn’t reached the peak fitness I was aiming for…

The teams consisted of seven or so highly enthusiastic, motivated and occasionally bionic individuals from various companies in London, all of whom had dedicated themselves over the last six months or more to raising fantastically large sums of money for the Prince’s Trust. The event was led by Mike Taylor, supported wonderfully by Luke, and Faan, Kobus (with well healed frostbitten fingers), Volker and Ralph from Namibia. The EML director, Mark, was also there. The challenge was really just a long race between the teams, encompassing cycling, running/walking, orienteering, abseiling and logical games all undertaken in the heat of the Namibian desert. All the teams had requested that the event was tougher than the previous year’s challenge. This, I think, we managed.

After a five-hour drive through dusty desert terrain the group arrived at a stunning area known as Vogelfederberg where Faan’s logistical team had set up a wonderful camp. It was here that preparation for the 50km bike ride the following day was to start. Bikes were sorted, saddles swapped, padding erected and legs stretched as each team prepared themselves for the challenge ahead.

To be woken soothingly by the beat of Volker’s African drums made getting up at 6am each morning a pleasure. Under scorching sun, bikes fitted, Lycra snug and Vaseline in hand, the clock started. Before any team member could even attempt to put foot to pedal, inner-tubes were removed and replaced and chains broken and fixed – just to add more of a challenge to the challenge. Thirty minutes later, everyone was on the move with 50km of desert ahead. The challenge tested physical ability, personal motivation, teamwork and, most importantly, the courage to withstand the inevitable chaffing.

I’m sure many of the competitors had never experienced cycling on sand. Few of them will ever choose to do it again.

With the appearance in the distance of a shimmering canvas silhouette, teams dug deep and wept tears of exhaustion as cries of angst echoed across the barren sands. It was the first lunch stop. 12km completed.

The food was more than exceptional. Fann’s team did a wonderful job throughout. Luxury was brief however, and after a 40 minute rest the first teams were straddling their bikes ready to go again. The afternoon provided some light relief for the thighs as tarmac was reached and the pedal into camp was partnered by a glorious sea view. After a well earned cool beer, and a battering from the waves, retreat was sought early in the form of a cosy and rather snug tent.

Teams awoke brimming with excitement on day two of the challenge. With bikes safely stacked on Faan’s big truck, day two was a test of navigation (finding the ‘on’ button on the GPS), sand walking and finding treasure in a mountain of dunes. With the dunes came heatstroke. Many a team member suffered. However, with support provided along the way, most were able to complete the almost vertical dune ascent towards the end of the morning to be met with stunning views – Walvis Bay and beyond, and Mike, crispy and glowing in the sunlight having positioned himself on top of the dune three hours previously. An essential leader’s post, he claimed.

Day two was followed by a 40km walk through barren landscape then stunning scenery in Swakop river valley, where many an ostrich was spotted. Arrival at camp three was met with the sunset for most, and a team sprint to the finish line when the whisper of ‘showers’ had echoed its way down the valley. With sweet smells of lavender, berries and tea-tree emanating around the camp, the evening was spent star gazing and drumming around the camp fire.

What was concluded as the most popular day was, ironically enough, day four – ‘R and R day’. Teams were eased into their state of relaxation by an early morning abseil down a rather steep 70m rock face, part of which involved ‘free abseiling’ (dangling free, awat from the rock face) followed by a three-and-a-half-hour sprint around a 20km orienteering trail. The ‘R & R’ day ended with a blister clinic.

The final full day was a 60km cycle. Although adept now at tackling the sand, the day still proved the toughest of challenges. It was the hottest day and really pushed all the teams to their limits. The end of the day was heralded the conclusion of a fantastic achievement for all. It also saw teams in the most beautiful camp site. The evening was decorated with various forms of entertainment and, after a special request from the teams; Mike shunned the normal ATD initiation ceremony by removing all his clothing, scaling Faan’s big truck and beautifully demonstrating the remarkable skill of a naked handstand…

Superb trip; remarkable achievements by all the teams and a great adventure. Looking forward to the next…media logisitics

Media support

We are now getting an increasing amount of requests from TV companies to help with the provision of medical support and kit. We have now devised a comprehensive proposal for this type of enquiry, so if you know of any TC companies needing medical support/assistance please contact us here.

Expedition medicine conferences coming up

We have listed a few conferences that might be of interest to our readers:

British Travel Health Association conference and annual general meeting – June 9th 2007.
The 9th annual conference of the BTHA is to be held at the Royal Horseguards, One Whitehall Place Suites, find out more here. The programme has been finalised and registration is now open. The conference programme and registration form can be downloaded in PDF by clicking here.

Expedition Medicine Conference – 22-25 August 2007, Washington DC USA
The first annual Expedition Medicine Conference 2007 is being held in Washington, D.C. They are one of the premier conference resources, for training medical professionals for expeditions. Their commitment is to provide excellence in education for those individuals traveling to remote areas. Their conference speakers are renowned experts in their fields and have vast expertise in all aspects of medical support for expeditions.

Mountain & Wilderness Medicine World Congress - Aviemore, Scotland 3-7 October 2007
The Mountain & Wilderness Medicine World Congress 2007 will bring together the Wilderness Medical Society (WMS) and the International Society for Mountain Medicine (ISMM) for their joint congress. This meeting is a landmark event for both of these prominent international organisations, being the first time that the UK has hosted the most prestigious event of worldwide significance for either society.

Diploma in tropical medicine – Dr Sarah Bailey

The DTM&H can be done both at Liverpool and London.

I did the diploma in 2005 in Liverpool having completed the local GP training scheme in Cumbria and worked as a GP for a couple of years.

It was a thoroughly fantastic experience. It is a packed course with a daily 9-to-5 timetable consisting of a mixture of didactic lectures, small group problem solving case scenarios and practicals in the laboratory. The course is attended by medics of all ages and from a multitude of countries and backgrounds. A lot of people are GPs, public health doctors, paediatricians or physicians, with or without the intention of specialising in infectious diseases. There was a flying doctor from Australia, a few nuns, some with experience in Darfur and post tsunami medical care. You can learn a lot from those you sit next to.

The return of the white coat, microscope, slides and pictures of pink and purple blobs, reminiscent of histology practicals at university was a change from general practice. However quite quickly you find yourself differentiating your plasmodium falciparum from your plasmodium ovale parasite at various stages in their lifecycles and it actually becomes quite satisfying. You also learn to make faecal smears and identify various ova, cysts and parasites. So now I know what happens to these samples when I send them off to the local lab.

For anybody with an interest in nature and just learning something different the ‘vector biology’ and ‘entomology’ side of things is a whole new ballgame. The housefly that lands on your dinner plate will never be a mere housefly again, now you can identify its wing markings and know how quickly they really can breed. You get to see various specimens of worm/larvae/insect etc, etc. They have a supply of mosquitoes to observe at various life cycle stages buzzing around test-tubes. Control of vectors has had some impressive successes and some disappointing setbacks over the century.

The course is certainly varied; from refugee health, setting up community services, dealing with an infectious disease outbreak, to discussing identification of a mosquito, how to tell one type of flea from another and more importantly how to control them. You discuss Millennium Development Goals, what the Bill Gates Foundation and the World Bank are doing. You discuss multidrug resistant TB, antiretroviral delivery in rural healthcare systems and malaria – resistance; will there be a vaccine, new combination drug regimes. Viral haemorrhagic fevers, ongoing deaths from tetanus and rabies then snake and scorpion bites, the list is long and interesting…

The teaching staff are the most enthusiastic and knowledgeable I have come across and that’s infectious too! They are approachable and discussion is encouraged. The lectures generally have lots of pictures and some contain video material to bring everything alive and maintain interest. I had long forgotten how to sit still and concentrate on lectures for hours.

  • There is opportunity to meet people who have worked for various agencies including VSO, MSF, etc.
  • The canteen sells wonderful cakes and much else besides.
  • Liverpool has had recent regeneration and is a friendly, fun place to live.

Is there a downside? The main one is the expense, of not earning or juggling earning at weekends with the course, of moving or finding somewhere to stay. The other one is fitting three months into other career and job plans, not always easy and with MMC probably much less so.

Is it useful? I guess that depends what you do it for. Many friends on the course have gone on to work abroad for example with VSO. Others have found now is not the time but may use it more it the future. As a medic working in a tropical environment it gives you much more knowledge and this has even aided confidence working back at home in GP with the ever increasing travelling population going to more ‘exotic’ destinations.

If you have any further questions please feel free to get in touch. Happy travels (bug free). Contact Sarah via the EML office here

Remote MED Bookshop

on the hunt for a good bookHunting for your travel medicine resource? Then look no further than EML’s online bookshop. Listed are a wide and extensive range of resources and photos designed to provide you with information on expedition medicine. A must for any travelling medic. Visit here.

New link with the IPPG

Here at Expedition Medicine we feel strongly that porters should have equipment adequate to the task, reasonable payments and adequate shelter and food whilst working for us.

Along with our sister company Across the Divide and all of our local charity challenge teams we adhere to the guidelines laid out by the International Porter Protection Group. It’s worth a read.

Featured Travel Image

Polar Medicine by Mark Hannaford

Per Thore Hansen EML's Polar Logistics - Medicine guru sledding north of Tromso © Mark Hannaford

Find out more about dog sledding with Per Thore here

Humble Apologies

In our last EML newsletter we mentioned that there were 18 doctors on the jungle course in Costa Rica – there was also one nurse – apologies for missing Jemma Patman out, she was not forgotten, it was a silly mistake.

Final words:

'Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant journey, safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success'. Advertisement placed by Ernest Shackleton in a London newspaper, August 1914. It is said 5,000 people responded to it.

'Am going to cross the Pacific on a wooden raft to support a theory that the South Sea Islands were peopled from Peru. Will you come?' A message from Thor Heyerdahl to Knut Heggeland, Torstein Raby and Henrik-Hesselberg inviting them to take part in the Kon-Tiki expedition. They all said yes!

'The most important thing, is that there is some'. Tom Bourdillon, Member of the British 1953 Everest Team on food!

Source: ‘A Teacup in a Storm, an explorer’s guide to life’ by Mick Conefrey